Blueberry plant named ‘ZZ04062’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct southern high bush blueberry variety, ‘ZZ04062’ is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from the controlled crossing of the blueberry varieties ‘O&#39;Neal’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Duke’ (pollen parent) (not patented). The fruit of this new variety has very large, attractive fruit which ripens mid-season. The new variety appears suitable for the fresh fruit market.

Genus and species plant claimed: Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘ZZ04062’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The variety resulted from selection among a population of seedlings derived from a controlled cross carried out in 2004 between ‘O'Neal’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Duke’ (pollen parent) (not patented) located at Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand. ‘ZZ04062’ was identified in 2006 as having potential as a new variety due to its attractive, large, medium blue fruit with good flavour. It was asexually propagated by cuttings in 2007 and the resulting plants were subsequently found to be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations. Since the initial propagation in vitro propagation has also been carried out successfully.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘ZZ04062’ is characterised by an upright bush habit and attractive, large fruit with good flavour which harvests mid-season. ‘ZZ04062’ is distinguished from a number of other varieties and by its parents by the following characteristics:

The fruit of ‘ZZ04062’ are larger than fruit of its paternal parent, ‘Duke’.

‘ZZ04062’ flowers later than its maternal parent, ‘O'Neal’. In Motueka, New Zealand, ‘O'Neal’ flowers early August while ‘ZZ04062’ flowers mid-September.

‘Misty’ begins flowering earlier than ‘ZZ04062’ and ‘Nui’ has a flat fruit shape while ‘ZZ04062’ has an oblate fruit shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant, flower and fruit of the new variety as depicted in colours as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a colour illustration of this character. Unless otherwise specified, the photographs depict mature (6 year old) plant grown at, Motueka, New Zealand.

FIG. 1 shows 6 year old plants of ‘ZZ04062’.

FIG. 2 shows ‘ZZ04062’ flowers.

FIG. 3 shows fruit of ‘ZZ04062’ on the plant.

FIG. 4 shows fruit of ‘ZZ04062’ removed from the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The observations, unless otherwise specified, were made in the 2015-2016, 2016-17 seasons on 5-6 year old plants grown at, Motueka, New Zealand. All dimensions in millimetres, weights in grams (unless otherwise stated). Colour terminology is in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) fifth edition.

-   Plant and foliage: This plant is generally upright in growth habit.     The surface texture of one year old canes are slightly rough while     the surface texture of mature canes (of three year old wood) is     rough and peeling; the colour of immature canes is near brown N200C.     The colour of the bark of mature canes is near greyed-green 197C.     The mature leaf is lanceolate in shape with an acute shaped leaf tip     and typically averages 57 mm in length and approximately 28 mm in     width. The margins are generally entire, and the leaf has slight     glossiness on the upper surface. Pubescence is absent from the leaf     upper and lower surface. The upper surface of the leaf is near green     137A and the lower surface near green 138B in colour. The petiole     typically averages 4.4 mm in length. -   Inflorescence: The typical flower has an average flower length of     12.2 mm and the diameter of the corolla aperture averages 4 mm. The     average diameter of the corolla tube is 7.5 mm. The style length is     approximately 8.5 mm. The main colour of the petals on fully open     mature flowers is near white N155B. The pedicel length averages 6     mm, with peduncle average length 10 mm. -   Fruit: The fruit are of large size, averaging approximately 2.9 g     (observed range 2.2-3.0 g) and clustered with an average of 11     berries/cluster. Fruiting occurs on one year old shoots only;     flowers do not occur on current season's shoots. The time of     beginning of fruit ripening on one year old shoots is early-mid     season, similar to that on ‘Nui’. Generally fruit is oblate with an     average diameter of approximately 17 mm (observed range 16-19 mm).     Ripe fruit generally has a skin colour of near violet-blue 97C with     bloom intact and near black 202A with bloom removed. The bloom is     moderately strong. Internal flesh colour of ripe fruit is near     greyed-green 188C. The calyx aperture is recessed on a ripe berry     and has an average diameter of 5 mm. The depth of the calyx basin is     medium. The attitude of the incurving sepals tends to be semi erect.     The pedicel scar is very small and generally dry. The fruit is     moderately firm and the fruit sweetness (Brix level) averaged 10.5.     Yield is high, averaging approximately 7-8 Kg per plant. The     self-compatibility of the new variety has not been tested by     self-crossing the variety. However, it is recommended to associate     the plant with other varieties with similar flowering timing to     maximise pollination and fruit set. -   Events: Vegetative bud burst occurred around the second week of     September under New Zealand growing conditions. Time of beginning     flowering mid-September, about 5 days earlier than ‘Nui’.     -   -   Maturity period.—Mid-season; fruit commenced ripening on             trial plants at Motueka, New Zealand in the first week of             December through until first week of January. Harvest season             is similar to ‘Nui’. -   Pest and disease: The plant does not seem to be susceptible to rust     (Pucciniastrum vaccinii). No symptoms of anthracnose or     Botryosphaeria have been observed under New Zealand growing     conditions. -   Additional description: The variety has been observed to be suited     to production of blueberries for fresh consumption. The plant cold     hardiness according to the American zone classification has not been     determined. However, the chilling requirement of ‘ZZ04062’ has been     estimated to be between 700 and 1000 hours. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct blueberry plant substantially as illustrated and described. 